Residents battle against plans for more borough gypsy sites

10:32am Thursday 31st May 2007

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The East of England Regional Assembly were given a crashcourse on the racial tensions in Thurrock when they held their 'Issues and Options Public Consultation' on the provision of gypsy and traveller caravan sites in Tilbury on Wednesday.

John Reynolds, a Cambridgeshire County Council councillor opened the meeting stating he was looking forward to hearing opinions.

He was not to be disappointed and did well to shepherd a highly charged meeting.

Team Manager, Graham Nelson outlined the options.

He said "Doing nothing is not an option. A joint report by the Department for Communities and EERA has identified the need for 1220 more caravan pitches in Eastern England with a provisional figure of 56 for Thurrock."

"There are two possible options: Distribute pitches where research has identified a need or spread the provision across the region with a minimum of 15 pitches in every local council area."

"The shortage of sites had contributed to the problem of unauthorised caravan pitches and the attendant socio-economic problems."

Former Thurrock Councillor Ray Andrews was one of the first to speak.

He said: "This is a green light for wealthy Irish travellers and eastern europeans to come over here and wreak havoc at the Thurrock taxpayers expense"

"Make the honeypot big enough and they will be over in droves."

Gypsy Traveller Liaison Officer Jane Palmer said: "I'm offended by the spurious assumptions and slurs being made against Gypsy Travellers."

"The majority are good, friendly people keen to make a home in Thurrock."

John Biddall headed a delegation from the Buckles Lane Travelling Showmen.

He said: "We are honourable, tax paying members of the Thurrock community steeped in historical tradition. Nevertheless Thurrock Council have rejected countless planning applications. We desperately want to legally plant our roots in this community."

"To the Development Corporation we are a grey land on a map and along with Thurrock Council they have left a whole community in distressing limbo. We hope the EERA don't also let us down."

Speaker after speaker documented abuse, intimidation and levels of pollution that English gypsy and Irish travellers had inflicted upon them.

Others pointed to the need for groups to come together and understand each other.

Lucy Pollock from South Ockendon Forum said: "Why is a meeting of such importance tucked away in a cramped room in Tilbury in half term. This should have been staged at the Civic Hall in the evening."

The EERA were keen to point out that the time,date and location were set by Thurrock Council. However, when the Gazette spoke to Thurrock Council offials they said that the assembley had turned down the option of an evening meeting becasue it was too late from people to travel from across the region.

Project Manager for Fordham Research Jamie Keddie reported on the assessments that they had made so far.

He said: "Thurrock's travelling population buck the trend in that many want to move to fixed accommodation. It is important that the consultation process recognises this.

"The figure of 56 pitches could well be too high."

He recognised that there was a vital need for regulation in the planning status of Buckles Lane.

After the meeting, John Reynolds said: "This has clearly been a excellent opportunity for people to raise their concerns. I hope they will now put them on paper."

"The options are not written in stone. The consultation could bring up other alternatives."

Former leader of Thurrock Council Ann Andrews said: "This is not about racism, this is about opening the door to lawlessness. Do people realise that 56 pitches could mean 1,000 more gypsy travellers living in Thurrock. The people of Thurrock need to know that."

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